COUNCIL Tax payers across Cheshire could be asked to stump up more cash to help fund policing.

The county's Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer has launched a survey seeking the views of residents on raising the police precept – the component of Council Tax which helps fund Cheshire

Constabulary – by 83p a month. Four online 'question time' events with the commissioner will also be held across the county, with a series of face-to-face roadshows also pencilled in. Following a consultation last year, a budget for Cheshire Police has been produced which the commissioner said will see 120 extra officers recruited. They would be joined by 63 more front line staff in areas like the call centre, as well as schemes to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB), and road safety initiatives. The commissioner said that to fund the investment, he wanted to know if residents would be willing to pay 83p per month extra via the police precept, for the average band D household. Mr Dwyer said he was 'extremely conscious' of cost of living and that asking to raise the precept any further than what he was asking would trigger a referendum. He said: "We are benefiting from increased funding from central government and the national Police Officer Uplift programme, however in my autumn survey I was up front with people. "I said a small precept rise would be necessary in order to keep the police at a standstill, and over 85 per cent of people who expressed a view said they were happy to pay more above this in order for the constabulary to have more resources. "The most popular option by some way was an increase in the police precept of 20p per week above standstill – equivalent to £1.04 perttp month – however, I am ultimately asking residents for less than this." To take part in the commissioner's survey online, click

here.

To request a hard copy of the survey, email [email protected]

The survey will close at midday on Tuesday, January 25Tth

Four online 'Commissioner and Chief Constable's Question Time' events will also be held for residents of each of Cheshire's four boroughs.

The details for the Cheshire East on is Monday, January 10th 7 – 8:30pm

To register for the local online event, send your name, question and postcode to [email protected] by 11:59pm the day before the event.